Historical Sketch

17In the spring of 1879, a little band of earnest
seekers after Truth went into deliberations over
forming a church without creeds, to be called the
“CHURCHOF CHRIST, SCIENTIST.” They were members of evangelical churches, and students of Mrs.
Mary Baker Eddy in Christian Science, and were
known as “Christian Scientists.”

At a meeting of the Christian Scientist Association,
April 12, 1879, on motion of Mrs. Eddy, it was
voted, — To organize a church designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which
should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost
element of healing.

Mrs. Eddy was appointed on the committee to
draft the Tenets of The Mother Church — the chief
corner stone whereof is, that Christian Science, as
taught and demonstrated by our Master, casts out
error, heals the sick, and restores the lost Israel:
18for “the stone which the builders rejected, the same
is become the head of the corner.”

The charter for the Church was obtained June,
1879,* and the same month the members, twenty-six
in number, extended a call to Mary Baker Eddy
to become their pastor. She accepted the call,
and was ordained A.D. 1881. Although walking
through deep waters, the little Church went steadily
on, increasing in numbers, and at every epoch
saying,

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

On the twenty-third day of September, 1892, at
the request of Rev. Mary Baker Eddy, twelve
of her students and Church members met and reorganized, under her jurisdiction, the Christian
Science Church and named it, THE FIRST CHURCHOF CHRIST, SCIENTIST.

At this meeting twenty others of Mrs. Eddy’s
students and members of her former Church were
elected members of this Church, — those with others
that have since been elected were known as “First
Members.” The Church Tenets, Rules, and By-Laws, as prepared by Mrs. Eddy, were adopted. A
By-Law adopted March 17, 1903, changed the
title of “First Members” to “Executive Members.” (On July 8, 1908, the By-Laws pertaining to “Executive Members” were repealed.)

19THE FIRST CHURCHOF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, IN BOSTON, MASS., is designed to be built on the Rock,
Christ; even the understanding and demonstration
of divine Truth, Life, and Love, healing and saving
the world from sin and death; thus to reflect in some
degree the Church Universal and Triumphant.

Click here to return to text.*Steps were taken to promote the Church of Christ, Scientist, in April,
May and June; formal organization was accomplished and the charter
obtained in August, 1879.